PDP Stands Firm: Edo Tribunal's Decision A Betrayal Of Nigeria's Trust

PDP Asserts Asue Ighodalo's Victory in Edo Elections

Listen up, folks. The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is standing firm, claiming that their candidate, Asue Ighodalo, rightfully won the 2024 Edo State governorship election. This bold assertion comes amidst the backdrop of the Edo governorship tribunal's verdict, which upheld the victory of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Now here's the kicker: the PDP isn't backing down. In a statement delivered on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party has labeled the tribunal's verdict as a violation of judicial impartiality. They argue that it's not just a legal issue but a betrayal of the trust Nigerians have placed in the judiciary. The PDP didn't come to these conclusions lightly—they’ve reviewed the tribunal's decision thoroughly.

Why the PDP Believes It Was Robbed

The PDP's argument is pretty straightforward. They maintain that the tribunal's verdict is a miscarriage of justice. According to them, their candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, secured the highest number of valid votes in the September 21, 2024, Edo State governorship election. Despite this, the tribunal's decision contradicted its own findings, which pointed to manipulations such as the wrongful allocation of votes to the APC and the arbitrary cancellation of valid votes won by the PDP.

Read also:

Anthony Edwards Net Worth 2024 Journey From Er To Film Success And Beyond

This situation, the PDP insists, is deeply troubling. It’s not just about one election; it's about the larger implications for democracy in Nigeria. If Nigerians can't trust the judiciary to make impartial decisions in electoral matters, where does that leave the nation's democratic process? The party warns that this judgment sets a dangerous precedent, one that undermines public confidence in democracy and the judiciary.

A Step Forward: Taking It to the Appeal Court

But the PDP isn’t throwing in the towel just yet. The party and its candidate are taking the case to the Appeal Court. They believe that justice will prevail there, and the higher court will deliver a fair verdict. The PDP is placing its faith in the judiciary's ability to ensure that justice is done when it matters most.

In their statement, the PDP emphasized, “Our Party and candidate Dr. Asue Ighodalo are proceeding to the Court of Appeal where we believe that there will be a conscientious judicial review of the matter to give justice to the people of Edo State.”

A Message to the People of Edo State

And here's the part where the PDP speaks directly to the people of Edo State. They're urging residents not to lose faith in the judiciary or in democracy itself. The party believes that the people of Edo freely gave their mandate to the PDP and Dr. Asue Ighodalo. The PDP is confident that this mandate will be restored in due time.

The PDP's statement concluded with a powerful message: “In the meantime, the PDP calls on the people of Edo State to remain resolute and not allow the verdict of the Election Tribunal to dampen their confidence in the institution of the Judiciary and democracy in Nigeria as they await the restoration of the mandate they freely gave to our Party and candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo at the election.”